WW Kolloquium: Prof. Athina E. Markaki Bioengineered Vascular Networks and Grafts

Prof. Athina E. Markaki
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge
Bioengineered Vascular Networks and Grafts

This talk will highlight my group’s work on the design and fabrication of vascular networks for tissue engineering, as well as the development of bioengineered grafts for clinical applications. The first part will focus on vascular networks, which are crucial for nutrient delivery and waste removal in engineered tissues. Insufficient vascularisation in large, densely populated constructs leads to necrotic core formation, hindering fabrication of functional tissues and organs. I will present:

(i) A space-filling algorithm for generating biomimetic 3D vascular networks.
(ii) A method for fabricating hierarchical 3D vascular networks in hydrogels using sacrificial 3D printing and cellular co-cultures. The second part will address the fabrication of bioengineered grafts from densified collagen hydrogel using a cell-free, non-decellularised approach, enabling true off-the-shelf capability. The grafts are intended to replace synthetic haemodialysis grafts, which connect an artery and a vein for kidney dialysis. Ex vivo and in vivo testing demonstrates that the grafts have sufficient strength for surgical implantation and function while supporting biomimetic cell repopulation. Initially tested as artery-to-artery replacements, the grafts are being further evaluated for vascular access (artery-to-vein) applications.